ZANISCOPY–Armed police seal-off Nakonde council

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Armed police seal-off Nakonde council

Nakonde, April 4, 2013, ZANIS… Quick action by armed police officers in Nakonde yesterday saved the Council secretary Francis Makessah from being locked outside his office by a group of angry Patriotic Front-PF youths.

The Council secretary came under fire from some angry PF youths who attempted to lock his office over allegations of single sourcing and lack of transparency in the manner he was awarding contracts.

The irate youths led by the district party chairperson Melvis Chanda marched from Nakonde town centre to the council offices.

At the civic centre, the group was denied entry by armed police officers in full riot gear who were found at the reception.

PF district chairperson Melvis Chanda told Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) that party officials were not happy with the manner in which the Council secretary had allegedly been awarding contracts without publicizing them in the media.

Mr. Chanda claimed that there were some contracts which had not been advertised such as the installation of street lights on the Stevenson road and building of toilets in schools.

Other contracts involved the purchase of office equipment, furniture and tables, as well as the fixing of floor tiles in council offices.

He further alleged that most of the contracts were single sourced adding that many were also being offered to the same contractors.

Mr. Chanda said that it was for this reason that his members wanted to remove the Council Secretary from his office so that Government could bring someone else who would work according to public expectation.

But Nakonde district commissioner James Singoyi and council chairperson Leonard Mukwasa  pleaded with the angry youths to calm down and consider solving the matter amicably.

It was at this point that some youths were selected and allowed to enter the council chamber to meet the Council Secretary to clarify the allegations.

Meanwhile, the Council Secretary clarified the allegations leveled against him and apologized  for any wrong that he might have committed.

Mr. Makessah’s explanation which seemed to have satisfied and calmed the youths who  later walked out of the council chamber smiling.

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